Local vendors look to work with Halliburton on Utica Shale

Company officials say there are opportunities for shale and non-shale work

Dec. 12, 2012

Written by

Brian Gadd

Staff Writer

ZANESVILLE — Darin Jordan is looking to do some business with Halliburton. So, too, is Charlotte Johnson.

The local companies they represent couldn’t be any more different, yet they represent the types of small business vendors that form part of Halliburton’s procurement process, Halliburton Procurement Manager Daniel Etter said.

Etter spoke briefly with Jordan, Johnson and others after giving the afternoon keynote presentation at Wednesday’s Oil & Gas Seminar at the Muskingum County Business Incubator.

Whether providing machine tools, materials or even office supplies, catering and security services, he said Halliburton always is looking to provide opportunities to qualified contractors, subcontractors and vendors.

Halliburton is investing between $35 million and $50 million in equipment and field service buildings in the EastPointe Business Park and has committed to creating 300 jobs during the next three years. Officials said they intend to fill 70 percent of the positions locally.

Proximity to Utica Shale and access to a large pool of job candidates available from local colleges and trade programs in Muskingum, Coshocton and Guernsey counties also were factors in locating in the area.

Contractors working on the project, vendors supplying the building and vendors working with the company at Utica Shale development sites provide other ways for locals such as Jordan to strike up a relationship with Halliburton.

Jordan, owner of Jordan Services, sees another opportunity to ride the coattails of a large energy services company that is aiming to be a key player in the eastern and southern Ohio Utica Shale formation. Jordan’s company, which provides power washing services, has been busy since this past summer washing down tanks used in the hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, process.

“You have to keep your name out there,” Jordan said.

Johnson, vice president of Zane Trace Clean Care Uniforms, also is hoping to get noticed by Halliburton, since the new Zanesville transportation center being built in the EastPointe Business Park is next to another Zane Trace client, The Bilco Co.

“We’re all over the state of Ohio, but we’re definitely looking for more business,” Johnson said, noting her company could supply large floor mats and uniforms for Halliburton. “We service Bilco, so we thought Halliburton is right next door.”

Etter said he expects there will be many opportunities for local vendors going forward, as the Utica Shale formation is expected to take years to develop.